Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif are now in the hands of a six-woman and six-man jury after the judge in the spot-fixing trial instructed them to retire to consider their verdict.

The jury are deliberating on what they have seen and heard over the past 17 days' evidence and cross-examination. Prosecutors allege that Butt, Pakistan's former captain, and Asif conspired with the sports agent Mazhar Majeed to deliver three intentional no-balls during the Lord's Test between Pakistan and England from 26 to 29 August last year.

Butt and Asif deny conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments.

"The only satisfactory verdict in a criminal trial is a unanimous verdict," said Mr Justice Cooke. "I do not want to hear anything about majority decisions at the moment."

The judge indicated that, if no unanimous decision is reached, he may then direct the jury to reach a majority verdict but stressed that would not do so for some days. "You may take as much time as you wish. Within reason."